This and That. Here and There.

Friday night, Daddy took a vacation day from work, so he got to stay home with Mia and I, and we were SO excited!  It’s the little things, like having Friday night together as a family, that mean everything to us!  We took full advantage and went and had some frozen yogurt!


I was supposed to work on Saturday morning, but ended up getting the day off, so more family time for us!  Dave did some research on a new place to eat, since we always go to the “usual's.”  We ate at this little burger joint in the highlands, and honestly, I appreciate his effort and spontaneity, it made me nauseous!  HA!  After eating pretty clean and organic, I felt like I was poisoning my body.  We left there, came home and watched movies together.

Sunday we went and picked up Uncle B for church because Meme and Poppy have been working every weekend.  We all went to Sunday school and church and then came back to Meme and Poppy’s house.  Poppy got off earlier than Meme, so we stayed and had lunch with Poppy and B.  Poppy grilled out some delicious food and we had a great time visiting.


After visiting for a few hours, we had a dinner date with 2 other couples from our ABF class.  Every month, Tiffani (Jase’s mommy!) divides us all up into different small groups so that each little group can go to dinner together and fellowship on a more intimate level.  It was so great!

Haha!  Not everyone looking at the same time, but still cute! 
We went to Sake Blue (a local sushi place) with Mindy and her husband Ryan, their girls Adele and Penny, and Samantha and her husband Jake.  Ryan, Jake and Samantha are all in Seminary school, so I got to pick their brains a little bit.  We had a wonderful evening with these guys!

Lessons

As I am making my way through reading the New Testament, I came across a verse.  A verse that jumped off of the page, smacked me in the forehead and went right back to the page acting all innocent as if it hadn’t just convicted the mess out of me!
The verse was Luke 6:45
“For what the mouth speaks, the heart is full of.” 
Ouch.
Does that reach into you soul and twist a little bit? 
It did mine.  Just that one little verse, sums up so much.  How many times do you/we go through the day and think or speak unpleasant things about others, circumstances, relationships, etc.??  How much gossip do we fall in to and and form negative opinions of someone who we don’t really know.  How many times do we negatively judge other wives, mothers, parents, whatever? 
I know personally, I am one to sink into pessimism.  I look at the glass half empty.  I worry about every single thing, even the things that are WAY out of my control.  If I am not in the word every day, praying every day, I slip into this behavior, spiraling downward, out of control, at record pace. 
Our attitudes affect everyone we come in contact with.  Have you ever been around that ONE person who can always bring you down? Or that one person who can walk into a room and light it up with their joy and vibrancy?
I want to be the latter of the two.
I love to be around the latter as well.
After this strong convicting text, I am consciously thinking about every thing before I speak.  I want my heart to be full of goodness, so that all that overflows onto others, is goodness.  I want goodness to overflow onto my husband, daughter, family, friends, strangers, and even more importantly, to those who, ahem, make it impossible to feel like they deserve the goodness!

Happy Anniversary to Mia!

Three years ago today, after 17 long trying days in the NICU, we got the call that we could finally take our baby home.  It was the best phone call I have ever received in my life!  If you remember her birth story, you understand WHY this was the best day ever. 
Even better than her actual BIRTH day.
The day we took her home we celebrated by going out to eat with family.  We have continued the tradition each year, because this day is huge to us!  Here is here 1st one year anniversary of that special day. 
This year, we spent the afternoon with daddy and when he went to work, we went out to eat with Meme, Poppy and B.  We chose a local fave because Mia was wanting “salat” (salad), and what baby wants, baby gets!

I plan to celebrate this date, every year, for the rest of my life.  Just like you celebrate your wedding anniversary, this day is so memorable to our family.  I can still tell you exactly what we were doing when we got that call. 
In that 17 days, I can honestly tell you that God was working in our lives.  I didn’t see it then, but can see it now.  He changed me and continues to mold me into the person I am supposed to be.  There is NO way I would have made it through all of those obstacles that were thrown at us during that time without God carrying me.

With all of that said, I’m being totally raw and real when I say I was mad.  Mad at God.  My faith became a little shaky.  Blow after insulting blow was slowing chipping away at my faith in Him.  I prayed relentlessly through everything, but didn’t feel like He was hearing me.  I begged and pleaded with Him to protect her.  I questioned His plan.  His love for me.  For her.  It was rough to put it lightly.
I am so thankful for all of my family, friends and coworkers who were with me and supporting us and praying for us every day.  I am thankful for the most amazing doctors and nurses who cared for my baby.  I am thankful for pastors and members of our church coming to the hospital and praying with us and over our little girl. 

But most of all, I am thankful for God.  His unending love, even when I was angry with Him.  For putting each and every one of those people in my life.  For lessons learnt.  And for giving me a chance and allowing me to be Mia’s mommy.

She is one loved little girl!
I am thankful for Mia every.single.day I wake up.  She is my breath of fresh air.  My sunshine on a cloudy day.  The answer to my prayers.
It has been an amazing three years!

Flashback

This time last year.  April 2011

My how time flies and how much she changes!

Froyo and Toy Story on Ice

Friday night we spent some time with Meme and B while Daddy and Poppy worked.  We went to Hobby Lobby so I could buy stuff for my wreath I made, and then went out for frozen yogurt with our cousins!!

Trying on Derby hats is always fun!

YUMMY!

Mia and the boys :)

Final product!  Not too shabby for my first time!

Saturday we went to see Toy Story on Ice.  This was Mia's birthday present from us.  It was soo much fun!

Me and my big lovey :)

And of course my little lovey!

Posing with Woody and Buzz before the show!

A little sno cone action in her new Buzz cup...

If this picture doesn't show you the pure excitement, I don't know what will!

Ready for the show!

This is the way she sat for the whole show!  Total amazement!

Beautiful weather=Play date with Pals!

Today Mia and I hosted a play date at our house! But before our friends came over, Meme stopped by for a surprise visit to her favorite girls!  We love our Meme :)


It was so nice to let the kids run and play today while the mommies got to talk.  Plus, I think the kids had a great time.  Check it out…


Water table fun!

Bouncing!  Mia, Jase, Nadia and Eli

Mia and Eli cooling down and pouring water over their heads :)  Silly kids!

And we can’t forget little Miss Addy!

Mia was being such a little mommy to her (as long as I’m not holding her, HA!)!  Isn’t she a doll?
I consider a play date successful when it ends like this…

Now waiting for the princess to wake up so we can go get some ice cream to complete this great day :)

Park date with a bestie and zoo date with daddy!

Yesterday Mia and I had a playdate with Christy and Nadia.  Nadia is pretty much one of Mia’s favorite peeps right now!  It is so sweet to see them interact and play so well together.

We went to the local park and let the girls play on the playground, and then throw rocks in the creek!  Mia LOVES doing that! Silly girl ;)

The pretty girls (acting like boys) throwing rocks! HA!

After the girls played up an appetite, we went to CFA for lunch and to let them play some more.  My girl went home and took a great nap!!
Today we had a playdate with…..
DADDY!
We don’t get to have too many dates with daddy because of his work schedule, so we were super excited to take him to the zoo and show him how WE do playdates :)

Favorites!

Loving the monkeys…she fits right in ;)

Talking with another monkey.

Mia and daddy watching the gorillas.

Our little fam!
We came home, daddy went to work and Mia and I had dinner outside on this beautiful day!


As for tomorrow?  Hanging out with Nadia :)